Compressor.



C. H. LEINERT.

COMPRESSOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 1913. l Patented J an. 5, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

C. H. LEINERT.

COMPRESSOR.

PPLIGATION FILED MAY 21, 1913. 1,123,327, l Patented .12.11.5,1915y 3SHEETS-SHEET 2.

" C. H. LEINERT.

COMPRESSOR.

. cATloN FILED MAY 21, 1913.

` 1,123,327. Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

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CHARLES E. LENERT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COMPRESSOR.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Airplication lcd Ray 21, 1913. Seria'l No. 769,089.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. LEINERT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, ha'veinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Compressors, of whichthe following is a speciication.

My invention relates to compressors, and

refers particularly (although not exclu-` sively) to compressors adaptedfor use.v in connection with cooling systems in which ammonia isemployed, although my compressor may also be used for compressing air orother gases, and, in fact, may be c mployed as-'a vacuum machine. Theprinciples involved in my compressor may also be employed for theparticular type of air compressors known as blowing engines used inconnection with blast furnaces.

The types of compressors which have heretofore been employed are knownas single acting and double acting. In the case of a single-actingcompressor, the gas is admitted to one side of a piston which operateswithin a cylinder, and by reciprocation of the piston this gas iscompressed. In the case of the double-acting compressors, gas isadmitted to each side of the piston reciprocating within a cylinder, sothat a compressing action takes place on movement of the piston ineither direction.

It -is the object of my invention to increase and simplify the operationof compressors by the use of a quadruple-acting machine. A pair ofpistons is provided which are suitably connected with each other so thatthey reciprocate together. These pistons are located within a singlecylinder, which at or near its center is provided with a partition whichis preferably movable and valved. In this way four compression s acesare provided within the cylinder, so t at as the connected pistonsreciprocate back and forth, the gas in two of the compression spaces issimu taneously compressed while new gas is being admitted to the othertwo compression spaces, and .upon movement of the pistons in theopposite direction the reverse By operating the compresser 'in thismanner, I have found that great simplicity of construction lmay beattained and a considerable saving of 'power effected, both on accountof the lessened weight and friction of the parts and on account of acooling action which I will explain hereinafter.

In the quadru le-acting machine which I have just descri ed, ammonia orother as may be admitted to the four compression chambers at a pluralityof pressures, and the gas in all of the compression spaces may then becompressed to a certain fixed pressure, or at a plurality of differentpressures, if desired. 4

A further object of my invention is to prevenl a rise of Vtemperature ofthe gas which is admitted to and compressed in the compressor to .thegreatest possible extent, both for the purpose of economizing power inefecting the compression and in order to keep the various bearing partsof the machine cool to prevent undue wear. I accomplish this result byadmitting gas to two of the compression spaces through the two pistonrods, which are made hollow valves beingI provided at the inner ends oithese piston rods. The gas which passes through these piston rods is, ofcourse, in an expanded and therefore cool condition, and serves to coolthe piston rods, the bearings associated therewith and the walls of thepiston itself. y

A further object of my invention resides in so constructing the variousparts that when the compressed gas is expelled from the compressionspaces this expulsion is made complete so that there is n o rexpansionof the gas into the compression spaces. This point is a very importantone, since if anypappreciable amount of compressed gas is allowed toremain in the compression spaces, on rexpansion of such gas, theentrance of further 'gas to the compression space is prevented.

A still further object of my invention relates to the provision of inletand outlet valves for the compression spaces. These valves are soconstructed, 'as will be explained in detail hereinafter, that theymayreadily be adjusted to open or close, as the case may be, at any desiredpressure; this result being accomplished by regulating a suitable scushion.

A objectief my :inventionl consists" Patented Jam-5, 1915.

in the use of interlocking packing rings on the piston,

these rings being constructed s that expansion of the same is effectedwiththe oil and These and,ot her advantages of my invention will be morereadily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, which showa preferred embodiment of my improvements, and in which,-

Figure l is a plan of my compressor, with the various connections usedtherefor; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1; Fig.3 is an enlarged, vertical longitudinal section through the compressioncylinder and the various parts associated therewith; and Fig. 4 is avertical transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

The compressor is provided with pedestals 10 which are supported on thebase 11. Also supported on the base 11 is the pillow block 12, whichsupports in suitable bear-V ings the crank shaft 13. A. yoke 14 issuitably connected to the crank-shaft 13 at one end, and at its oppositeend is attached to a. .cross-head 15 which reciprocates within across-head guide 16a.

Attached to the ends of the cross-head 15 are the connecting rods 16,which are also attached to a cross-head 17 which reciprocates within across-head guide 18. The crossheads 15 and 17 are rigidly attached tothe hollow piston-rods 19 and 20. so that on rotation of the maincrank-shaft 13 the piston rods 19 and 20 are themselves reciprocated.The piston rod 19 at one end passes into the main trunk stuffing-box21,l which at the same time acts as a suction chamber in connection withthe branch inlet-pipe 22. Similarly, the hollow piston-rod 20 passesinto the main trunk stuffing-box 23, which is connected with. the branchinlet-pipe 24. Suitable packing rings are provided around the pistonrods 19 and 20 to prevent leakage of gas as the piston rods arereciprocated within the main trunk stuiiing-boxes 21 and 23.

The inner ends of the piston rods 19 and 20 proiect within thecompressor cylinder represented as a whole bv 25. The end of each pistonrod is provided with a piston 26. a threaded connection being providedbetween the piston rod and the piston. Each of the pistons 26 is hollowand of semispherical shape, of the same contour Aas the two ends of thecylinder 25. Each of the pistons 26 has an inner end member 27 procasing41.

vided with a ange 28. Between the peri hery of the member 27 and theinner sur ace of the cylinder 25 are placed packing rings 29, 30 and 31.These rlngs are held in position by the flange 28, and the central ring30, provided with offsets 32, serves to expand the rings 29 and 31 sothat snug engagement is made with the inner surface of the cylinder, andthe use of a bull ring or expanding springs is thereby avoided. `astenedto the member 27 is a'valve-seat member 33 provided with passages 34 anda sleeve 35. A valve 36 seats on the valveseat member 33 and has anextension 37 within the sleeve 35. Fastened to this extension 37 bymeans of a screw-bolt 38 is a cap 39, which also engages the outersurface of the sleeve 35. Between the cap 39 and the valve-seat member33 is a spring 40 which serves to normally keep the valve 36 seatedagainst the valve-seat member 33.

The compressor cylinder, represented as a whole by 25, consists of anouter casing 41 which is supported by the base 11 of the compressor, andwithin this casing are bushings 42, the water-cooling spaces 43 beingformed between the bushings 42 and the Between the casing41 and theouter surfaces of the bushings 42 are provided recesses 41a and 42,which preferably have outlet passages 43a connected therewith. After thebushings 42 have been inserted withinthe casing 41. hot metal, such aslead or similar composition, is poured through the passages 438L andfills the annular recesses formed by the recesses 41a and 42, therebyserving to prevent leakage between the casing 41 and the bushings 42.The upper portion of the casing 41 is provided with an aperture 44 whichis normally closed by a. valve-cap 45, and outside of this a'waterjacketcap 46; the space between the valvecap 45 and the water-jacket cap 46being normally filled with cooling water.

Just inside of the valve-cap 45 is an annular space 47, which at itslower portion is provided with a pair of supporting lugs 48 recessed at49a. The lugs 48 serve to support valve-partitions 49 and 50. Thevalve-partition 49 is provided with a flange 51 which is located justexterior to and fits over a flange 52 of the valve-partition 50. Betweenthe partitions 49 and 50 are placed expansion springs 53, which serve tohold the partitions 49 and 50 against the ends of the bushings 42, sothat there is no communication between the annular space 47 and theinside of the cylinder 25. The partition 49 is provided with a,valve-seat member 54, this seat-member being held in position by a ring'55 having apertures 56 extending therethrough. A valve 57 engages thevalve-seat member 54 and extends inwardly within the ring member 55. Ina similar manner the partition 50 is provided with a valve-seat .pies aposition between the va member 54 held' in position by the ring member55B having passages 56B. A valve 57a extends through the 'ring member55, and also has an extension 58 which extends within the inner Betweenthe valves 57' and 57a is located an expansion sprin 59, which serves tokeep the valves 57 an 57 a in engagement with the 'respective valve-seatmembers 54'and 54a.

The two ends of the cylinder 25 are provided with cylinder-heads 60 and61. Each of these cylinder-heads is provided with suitable packingthrough whlch the piston rod 19 or 20, as the case may be, passes. Eachof the cylinder-heads 60 and 61 is provided with an inlet passage 62which communicate with a valve chamber 63 closed on the outside by a cap64. Integral with the cap 64 is a hollow extension 65, on the outside ofwhich a valve 66, seating against a valveseat 67, is located. The valvemember 66 is provided with flanges 68 and 69. The valveseat member 67 isheld inposition by a ring 70, which is connected with a ring 71,containing a rubber ring 72, by means of ribs 73. The housing 74 isfastened to the ring 7l. A helical expansion spring 75 extends betweenthe ring 72 and the fiange 69. rlhe cap 64 has fitted upon its end acock 76 provided with a passage 77 leading to the interior of extension65 and may be brought in register with the passage 78 in the cap-member64. The passage 78 communicates with the chamber 63. Each of thecylinder-heads 60 and 61 also contains a chamber 79, which is closed bymeans of a cap 80 having a hollow inward extension 81. At the base ofthe eX- tension 81, the cap 80 is provided with an annular recess 82 atthe bottom of which is a rubber ring 83. The valve 84 has a sleeve 85inclosing the extension 81, and also has a piston-like end 86 which litswithin the annular recess 82 in the cap 80. The s ring 87 occuve 84 andthe base of the recess within the extension 81 of the cap 80. r1`hevalve 84 is normally seated by the spring 87 against a valve-seat member88. A. cock 89 extends through the cap 80 and has a passage 90 which isin communication with the chamber 79, and on turning the cock is adaptedto be broughtl into register with a passage 91 which communicates withthe annular recess 82. Each of the cylinderheads 60 and 61 may beprovided with one or more of the inlet valves 66 and outlet valves 84 ofthe type which I have just described.

The annular space 47 communicates with the oil separator, which isindicated as a whole by 92. This oil separator, as most clearlyindicated in Fig. 4, is provided with a central passage 93 whichcommunicates at its lower end with the space between said passage andthe outer casing 94 of the oil separator. This space is provided with aspirally-disposed partition 95, the lower sur hollow end of the valve 57face of which is provided with corrugations 96, thereby forming a spiralpassage 97 through which the gas travels in a manner which willpresently be explained. The upper end of the passage 97 is closed by aballcheck valve 98; this ball-check valve serving to normally closecommunication between the passage 97 and the pipe 99 which leads to theammonia condenser or other similar apparatus to which the compressed gas1s to bedelivered. Pipes 100 lead from the chambers 79 associated withthe outlet valves 84 to the passage 93 in the oil separator 92. Thelower end of the oil separator 92 is provided with a discharge pipe 101for carrying off oil or condensed liquid.

Associated with my compressor a bypass header 102 may ,he employed, to'which may lead supply-pipes 103, 104, 105 and 106. Between each of thesepipes a valve 107 is provided in the header 102, so that the latter isdivided into a plurality of sections. Each of the pipes 103, 104, 105and 106 is also provided with a valve 108. The pipe 22 leads from theheader 102 to the main truck stuffing-box 21, and the pipe 24 leads fromthe header to the main trunk stuling-box 23. A pipe 109 leads from theheader 102 to the inlet passage 62 in the cylinder-head 60, and a pipe110 leads from the header 102 to the inlet passage 62 in thecylinder-head 61.

Having thus described the various parts which are used in my improvedcompressor, the operation of the same will now be readily understood.Ammonia or other gas to be compressed is supplied to the various inletsof the compressor through the pipes 22, 109, 110 and 24. Y1t will beevident that by proper adjustment of the valves 107 in the header 102,and the valves 108 in the pipes 103', 104, 105 and 106, the entrancepipes 22, 109. 110 and 24 may be supplied with gas at a plurality'ofdi'erent pressures. As the main crank-shaft 13 is rotated, the twopistons 26v are reciprocated (by means of the connections explainedabove) within the bushings 42 of the cylinder 25. lLet us assume thatthe pistons are being moved to the right from the positions indicated inFigs. 1, 2 and 3. As this travel takes place, a vacuum is formed in thespace to the left of the left-hand piston 26. This results in openingthe valve 66 against the tension of the spring 75, and gas is allowed topass from the passage 62 in the cylinder-head 60 into that portion ofthe cylinder located to the left of the piston attached to the pistonrod19. At the same time, the gas whichis located bef tween the left-handpiston and the partition 49 is compressed, and the valve' 57 is therebyunseated, allowing this gasSto pass through the openings 56' into thevannular space 47 tothe-passage 93 in the oil sepa.-

` be expelled through the outlet y cylinder between the rator.-v Thisaction continues until the left-v handpiston 26 has reached a point inits travel where it approaches the partition 49. When this happens, thepartition 49 as a whole is then moved against the tension of the springs53 and unseated from the end of the bushing 42, so that the gas passesdirectly from the interior of the cylinder to the annular space 47. Thepiston may then engage the partition 49, so that absolutely all of thegas within this portion of' the cylinder 1s expelled into the annularspace 47. It will be evident that while this ,action is taking place,the partition is being forced more iirmly against the ends of theright-hand bushing 42. In the meantime the right-hand piston 26 istraveling toward the cylinder-head 61. The gas in that portion of thecylinder between the right-hand piston 26 and the cylinder-head 61 iscompressed, land when it reaches the predetermined pressure the outletvalve 84 is unseated and the compressed gas passes through the pipe 100to the passage 93 in the oil separator 92. At the same time,.the valve36 in the right-'hand piston`26 is unseated` and the gas containedwithin the hollow piston-rod 20 is allowed to pass into the spacebetween the right-hand piston 26 and the partition 50. Inasrnuch a'sthis rgas has been previously expanded, it serves to keep the piston rodand the piston at a low temperature, preventing heating of the bearings.1t will also be clear that inasmuch as the piston 26 is hollow, it actsas a trap for catching scale or mechanical impurities of otherdescription which may be contained within the gas. lVhen the piston rods19 and 20 are moved in the opposite direction, it will be apparentthat1exactly the reverse operation to that which has just been describedtakes place; that" is, gas will be admitted to the portion of thecylinder between the left-hand piston 26 and the partition 49 and t0 theportion of the right-hand piston 26 and the cylinder-head 61, while the,Agas will valve '84 of the cylinder-head and through the partition 50.It willl thus be apparent that there are four, compression spaces withinthe cylinder 25, gas being compressed in two of .these spaces at any onetime, and

' being'iadmitted to the other two by suction at the same time.

I have emplo ed the cock 76 in connection with the val ve 66 in order toeasily regulate the pressure at which the valve operates. If the cock isturned so thatr communication between the passages 7 7 and 7 8`isinterrupted, 1t will be evident that thejvalve 66 w1ll unseat with greatdiiiiculty, since such unseating would -tend to cause a .vacuunil withinthe hollow-extension ofthe .cock 76, therefore,

` area of the amaca-z cap 64. On the other hand, if the passage 77 isbrought fully into register with the passage 78, the valve 66unseatsvery easily, since gas is constantly supplied through thepassages 78 and 77 to the interior of the extension 65. By `suitableregulation of the the valve 66 may be unseated at any desired degree ofsuction. The cock 89 used in connection with the outlet valve 84operates on asimilar principle. If communication between the passages 90and 91 is entirely interrupted, the valve 84 will open with difculty,since outward movement of this valve must be against an air cushionwithin the annular recess 82. 1f, on the other hand, it is desired tohave the valve open very easily, the passage 90 is brought into registerwith the passage 91.

The area of the piston-like flange 86 is somewhat larger than that ofthe valve 84, and since the pressure of gas within the chamber 79 is atthe maximum to which it is desired .to compressthe gas, the valve 84may-open at a comparatively low pressure within the cylinder on accountof the higher pressure within the chamber 79, the greaterpiston-like'flange 86, and the fact that the gas within theannular-'recess 82 isreadily expelled through the passages 91 and 90.This action is particularly desirable in ordinary operation, since itcauses the gas to be expelled from the cylinder immediately when thepiston starts to-move toward the outlet valve. The rubber rings 83 and72 areV provided in connection with the outlet and inlet valves in orderto provide cushioning means for the same.

As previously explained, the compressed vgas passes to thepassage 93' ofthe oil separator, and thence downwardly through this passage to thebottom of thecasing 94. The gas next passes through the spiral passage97l and comes incontactjwith the corrugations k96, which serve to removeoil -and liquid. These drop from the onto the smooth-surface at the topof the spiral partition 95 and are carried down to the bottom of the oilseparator by gravity, and then pass out through the discharge pipe 101.From the passage 97 the gas passes the'ball-check valve 98 and goes tothe pipe 99, the ball-check valve 98 serving to prevent any return ofcompressed gas which has on'ce passed this valve.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the lart that many changes couldbe made in the my invention, or

both through and ing compressed iluid substantially as dearound saidpartition, scribed.

2. In a compressor, the combination of a cylinder, two pistons, anintermediate partition in said c linder, means for exhausting compresseHuid both throu h and around said partition, and means or supplyingfluid to be compressed, said means including a valved passage througheach of said istons, substantially as described.v

3. n a compressor, the combination of a cylinder, two pistonsreciprocably mounted within said cylinder, said pistons being providedwith hollow stems, a artition inisaid cylinder, said partition beinglocated between said pistons, means for vexhausting compressed Huidthrough and around said partition, and means for admitting fluid to becompressed through said hollow stem,

substantially as described.

4. In a quadruple actin compressor, the combination of a cylin er, twopistons mounted therein, an intermediate two-part, expansible partitionlocated between said pistons, and means for admitting fluid through saidpistons, compressed Huid escaping around the peripheries of saidpartitions, substantially as described.

5. In a compressor, the combination of a cylinder having a pair ofbodily movable transverse partitions in its central portion, an outletpassage communicatin with the space between said partitions an on bodilymovement of one of said partitions communicating with said cylinder, apair of pistons within said cylinder, said pistons being located onopposite sides'of sald partitions, and means for reciprocating saidpistons in unison, substantially as described.

6. In a compressor, the combination of a cylinder having a pair ofbodily movable valved transverse partitions in its central portion, anoutlet passage communicating with the space between said partitions andon bodily movement of one of said artitions communicating with saidcylin er, a pair of pistons within said cylinder, said pistons beinglocated on opposite sides of said partitions, means for reciprocatingthe said pistons in unison, and means for admitting gas to said cylinderbetween each of said pistons and said partitions, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a compressor, the combination of a cylinder having a pair ofbodily movable valved transverse partitions in its central portion, anoutlet passage communicating with the space between said partitions andon bodily movement of one of said artitions communicating with saidcylin er, a pair of pistons within said cylinder, said pistons beinglocated on opposite sides of said partitions, means for reciprocatingsaid pistons in unison, means for admitting gas to said cylinder betweeneach'of said pistons and .said partitions, inlet means for admitting gasto said cylinder between each of said pistons and the adjacent end ofsaid cylinder, and outlet means from said cylinder between each of saidpistons and the adjacent end of the cylinder, substantially asdescribed. x

8. A moistureseparator for gases, comprising a casing, a passage throughsaid casing, and corrugations on the roof of said passage for separatingthe moisture from said gases, substantially as described.

9. A moisture separator for gases, Acomprising a casing, a passagethrough said casing, corrugations on the roof of said passage forseparating the moisture from said gases, and a discharge outlet leadingfrom said casing, whereby the separated moisture is 'carried away from*said casing, substantially as described.

10. In a compressor, the combination of a` cylinder having a pair ofbodily movable valved transverse partitions in itsl central portion,resilient means for normally keepinv said partitions separated from eachotler, an outlet passage communicating with the space between saidpartitions and on bodily movement of one of said partitionscommunicating with said cylinder, a pair of pistons within saidcylinder, said pistons being located at opposite sides of saidpartitions, and means for reciprocating said pistons in unison,substantially as described.

CHARLES H. LEINERT. Witnesses THOMAS HENDERSON, S. J. Larson.

